John d



J. D. EMAGK.

SCHOOL SLATE.

{No Model.)

Patented Nov. 20,1883.

Rsww INVENTOR' I'INESSES:

' ATTORNEY- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. EMAOK, OF BALDWIN, NEW YORK.

SCHOOL-SLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,698, dated November20, 1883.

Application filed July 30, 1883. (No modeh T at whom it may concern Beit known that I, Join: D. EMAOK, of Baldwin, Queens county, New York,have invented certain Improvements in the Construction of School-Slates;and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear and correctdescription of my invention, reference beinghad to the accompanyingdrawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, in -which Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved slate and frame. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through thecenter of the circular depressions or guide-marks, showing the form of I5 these depressions and of the grooves in the sides of the frame.

In the drawings like parts of the invention are designated by the sameletters of reference.

The nature of the present invention relates to improvements in theconstruction of slates, for use in schools more particularly; and itconsists in providing the slate-frames, upon each edge,with a shortgroove placed about centrally, and also with the circular depressionsupon the upper and under sides of the frame, the object of the inventionbeing the production of a slate which can easily be lifted from the deskor table upon which it is usually placed and turned over without theusual noise occasioned by turning a slate'over upon a desk or table.

Noiseless slates are common; but in about all in use they are sorendered by the employment of rubber cushions, or by winding the framewith flannel, twine, or some fibrous or textile material. In some casesthe frame has been coated with a composition of matter somewhat of thenature of rubber, or a frame not made of wood, but molded from a com- 40position of matter, has been employed.

To enable those skilled in the arts to use my invention, I will describethe same.

A shows the bars or sections of wood employed to form. the frame,constructed and united in the usual manner, the inner edge of 5 the'samebeing grooved to receive the edges of the slate B. Upon the outer edgesof the longitudinal bars I place, about centrally, the short grooves G,and upon the upper and under sides of these longitudinal bars I placethe circular depressions D.

The operation may be thus set'forth. The grooves O are intended toreceive two or more of the upper portions of the fingers of thepupil,while the circular depressions receive the upper portion of thethumbs, or may serve as V indicants for the pupil to find the grooves O.

The upper portion of two or more of the fingers having been inserted inthe grooves G, and the upper portion of the thumbs resting in thecircular depressions D, the slate may be removed from the desk or table,turned over and replaced upon the desk or table noiselessly, or withoutthe accompaniment of the noise usually attending the turning over of aslate upon a desk or table.

The cost of grooving the frame and forming the depressions in the sameis so slight that the cost of the slate is but little increased.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- Aslate-frame provided with the grooves G and circular depressions D,substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

A. SIDNEY DOANE, WILLIAM V. H. HIoKs.

